Key container



J. v. RIVERS 2,248,436

KEY CONTAINER July 8, 1941.

Filed Jan. 15, 1940 l 4 .f as F E v o gil/Umm rlu-m. v R ivanl PatentedJuly 8, 1941 -U N l TE@ Sini E S PATENT GFF ICE KEY CONTAINER .lohn V.Rivers, Columbus, Ohio Application January 15, 1940, vSerial No.3l3,980

(Cl. l0-.456)

7 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in keycontainers or holders of that type designed for holding one or more keysin compact form so as to be conveniently carried in the pocket of agarment of the user, or in a pocket book, hand bag, purse or other likearticle or receptacle so as to be readily available to the user, and inwhich the keys are normally enclosed in the container to prevent injuryto thekeys or to the garment or article in which the key container iscarried or stored.

`The primary object of the invention is to provide a key container whichmay be made in a neat and attractive form of metal, hard rubber,Bakelite or other plastic materials so as to be light in weight and ofsuch small dimensions as to allow it to be carried in a small garmentpocket, ladys purse or other like receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide akey container which isadapted for holding a plurality of automobile keys or house or oiiicekeys and to allow selected keys to be easily and conveniently projectedfor use and retracted after use.

A-still further object'of theinvention is to providea key container soconstructed as to allow the container to ,be held in one hand and anykey .to'be projected and retracted bythe thumb or a finger of the hand.

A still further object of the invention is to provide ra.:key containerwhich is simple of constructionand free'from complex parts liable to getout of order and which, while adapted to'hold acnurnber of keysfis soAcompact that it-may be used to apply keys to locks in conned spaces,such asin recessed instrument boards.

.A still further object of the invention is to provide a container whichwhile of rigid body type-to efectually protect the keys and to be proofagainst Lfwearthereon by the keys, is so formed as to'be devoid ofsurfaces liable to wear holes in a garment pocket or receptacle in whichit is carried.

-Withrthese and other objects in View, the invention consists of thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts,hereinafter'fully described and claimed, reference beinghady to'theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view looking toward one side of a key container constructedin accordance with my invention, showing one of the keys in projectedposition.

Fig. 2' is a longitudinal edge view thereof.

`Figf3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of the container with the cover plateat that side of the container removed.

Fig. 4 is atransverse section through the container on line ll-4 ofFig.,3.

Fig. 5.is a similar section through` the container online 5-5 of Fig.13.

Fig..6is an inner side `viewof one of the supporting platesv showing oneofthe keyspof the pair carried thereby as applied and the other removed.

Figs. 78 anda are, respectively, an outer face view, a longitudinal edgeview and aninner'face View of one of the key-projecting slides.

.Fig.10 is a view looking toward one of the faces of thebody orpartition plate.

Figs. 1l and 12 are plan and edge Views of one of the keys.

Fig. 1'3 is a longitudinal section on line I3-l-3 ofFig. v3.

Fig. .14 is .a view similar to Fig. 3 with cover plate and ,slidesremoved illustrating the actions ofthe springs in the projected andretracted positions of -a I pair of keys In the exemplified embodimentof my invention herein disclosed, the container l comprisesamaincentralor partition plate2, each face 3` ofwhich is aduplicate ofthe other and on each side .Ofwhich are arranged sets of key holding andactuating elements, each a duplicate of the otherso that a,descriptionof one .set will suffice for both.

Eachiace of the plate 2 is provided-with a central.longitudinallytextending partitionfrib 4 and transverse endribs; orabutments v5 on which rests a supporting. or carrier plate@ detachablysecuredtheretoby screwsl or. other suitable fastenings ,l engagingthreaded sockets 8 in the ribs 5. The ribs andplates cooperate to formkey receivingchambers orspaces VVV9 closed at their inner sides by therib Land `opening at their outer sides through the longitudinalgedges ofthe container. Disposedn the outer :side of the plate l` isv a coverplate or caplll of dished or concavoconvex form longitudinally andtransversely, the depending portions Aorfiianges of which t `about orembrace the longitudinal ,and transverse edges of the plate 6. Thisplate t0 is provided o neach side of. itsulongitudinal center adjacenteach; end witha.guideslot l Landit is also provided with a centralopeningllzregisterng with-a correspondingly arranged peirlg.- l 2' in'the Plate 5 f01`..13aS- sageof a ,screw ,orlike tastening`l3 ,entering athreaded. socket- Ill-formed'in; orx as apart of the ribA, wherebysaidfplate Ill' is detachably fastened ingpositien.

Mounted at opposite ends of the chambers 9 to swing into and out ofthese respective chambers are keys I5. The butt or head end of each keyis provided with an opening I I5 to engage a pivot pin Il projectingfrom the inner face of the plate 6 whereby it is pivoted to swing intoand out of its chamber, and adjacent to and at one side of its pivotopening the key is provided with a combined crank pin and locking pinI8. This pin I8 projects toward the outer face of the plate 6 through anarcuate slot I9 in which said key is movable in the swinging motion ofthe key. The slots I9 open into and are arranged -at opposite ends oflongitudinal recesses 2E) formed in the outer face of the plate 6, saidrecesses being separated by a rib 2I and having outer side walls 22. Therib 2I and side walls 22 cooperate with unreduced portions 23 of theplate G to form a seat surface for the cover plate I0 and serve also asabutments for key controlling springs 24. Each portion 23 of the plate Bis undercut to form a keeper socket 25 communicating with the adjacentend of the associated recess 2S.

The springs 24 are of ribbon type and U- shaped, each spring havinginner and outer limbs 26 and 2 connected at one end by a bend or returnportion 28. The springs are seated in the recesses 2i] and extendlongitudinally thereof and have their bent ends 28 conned in the keepersockets 2b and their free ends projecting toward and overlying the slotsI9. As shown, the inner limbs 26 of the springs normally bear at theirfree ends against the rib 2| while the free ends of the outer limbs ofthe springs are engaged on their outer faces by the pins I 8 on the keyswhereby on an inward swinging movement of each key into its receivingchamber the associated spring will be compressed and placed undertension.

Each arcuate slot I9 has an inner end portion substantially parallelwith the longitudinal axis of the container and an outer end portionsubstantially parallel with the transverse axis of the keeper, the endwall of said outer end portion forming a stop 29. When a key is swunginwardly its pin I8 rides back into the slot I9 and in so doingcompresses its actuating spring which is compressed to the maximumdegree at the time the pin enters the inner end of the slot and moves toa position beyond center or in rear of the pivot pin I'I, against theouter side wall of which slot 5 end the pin is pressed by the spring,withV the result that the key is locked against outward swingingmovement and the spring held compressed. To effect an outward movementof the pin in the slot I9 an actuating slide 30 is provided. Movement ofthis slide forward from its normal position causes the pin I8 to beforced into the Ibody portion of the slot I9, whereby it is unlocked andthe spring is free to move and exert its tension to force the pinoutwardly into the outer end portion of the slot and against theshoulder 29, thus swinging the key out to projected position. Thismovement of the key is limited to a position in which it is at rightangles to the container by the stop action of the end wall or shoulder29 of the outer end portion of slot I9. As this portion of slot I9 isarranged substantially parallel with the transverse axis of thecontainer, the pressure of the spring on the pin I8 in this position ofthe parts will cause the key to be locked in its projected position fromwhich it cannot be moved backward in a retractive direction by backwardmovement of the slide. A slight pressure in key closing direction of thethumb or iinger of the hand holding the container, however, will serveto release the pin I8 from the outer end portion of slot I9 and allowthe key to be swung back to retracted position within its receivingchamber, during which action the key will be locked from outwardmovement and the spring compressed ol placed under tension in the mannerpreviously explained for subsequent release by movement of the slide andthe automatic projection of the key.

Each slide 30 comprises a plate mounted for movement beneath the plateI0 on ledges 3| arranged alongside the rib 2l and walls 22 on the plate6, said slide being formed or provided with a thumb button or nger piece32 projecting outwardly through and movable in a slot II in the plateIG. The slide plate 30 is provided in its underside or inner face with aslot 33 receiving and engaging the combined crank and locking pin I8 onthe associated key I5. The slot 33 is arranged at an angle to thelongitudinal axis of the slide plate so that its Walls form cam surfacesfor cooperation with the crank pin to unlock the retracted key forprojection by the tensioned spring and for retraction by manual pressureon the key during which the spring is tensioned.

The construction described provides a key container which is ofsubstantially oblong rectangular form in plan, preferably rounded at itsends and corners so as to be devoid of angular surfaces liable to catchin the lining of a pocket, purse, or other receptacle in which thecontainer is arranged and to wear a hole in the lining. This containeris of a length not greatly exceeding the length of keys of a form to becontained therein, which may be at keys of Yale or similar type. For thepurpose of reducing the length of the keys, and correspondingly reducingthe length of the container, a portion of the head of each key may besheared off, leaving suicient head area for the formation of the pivotopening I6 and mounting of the combined crank pin and locking pin I3.The container may, therefore, hold as many as four keys, while being sosmall and compact that it may be conveniently carried in a vest pocketor other small pocket or in a purse, hand bag or like receptacle, or ina pocket therein. In the exemplication disclosed, the container isprovided on each side of its main plate 2, and between the same and eachcover plate IIJ, with compartments to `receive two keys which may beautomobile keys or keys used for any other purpose or purposes and whichare customarily carried by anindividual on his person. By the provisionof a container of compact form holding as many as four keys, it will beunderstood that three of these keys may comprise ignition, door andcompartment or pad lock keys of an automobile, while the fourthcomprises a house or office door key or the like. The principle of theinvention may, of course, be employed in the construction of a containerfor holding keys of the type described of a normal length or which areunreduced in size by the shearing away of the head of each key for thepurpose of reducing its length, and the form and size of the containermay be such as to adapt it to hold all general styles of keys, withcertain exceptions, which are of a form and construction most generallyin use.

As before stated, the sets of keyholding and actuating elements are induplicate on each side of the main or partition plate 2, each set beingadapted to hold and control the action of two keys, allowing four keysof a similar type to be carried. The push buttons of the slides 30 whichcontrol the keys may be provided with numbers or 'marks to `identifyorindicate the purposes for which the respective keys are intended orthe locks in connection with which they are to be used. The `'size andshape of the -container is such that it may be conveniently-held in ahand of the'u'ser anda-keyprojected by pressure of the thumb of the handon the thumb button 32 to move the slide in -key unlocking or vreleasingdirection, which is eiec'ted byengagement of one of the Walls of theslotf@ of the slide With the pin I8, the key upon being so releasedbeing `instantly swung on its pivot to projected position bythe actionthereon of its tensioned impelling spring. The key'upon being soprojected will be locked in the manner previously described in projectedposition so that it cannot be moved out o fully projected position orretracted until unlocked for the purpose, which cannot be effected bybackward movement of its actuating slide. Each projected key, however,may be readily unlocked and swung back to retracted position by pressureof a thumb or forenger of the hand holding the container on the key, themovement of the key back to retracted position within its receivingcompartment causing the tensioning of its impelling spring and the inallocking of the key in retracted position ready for a subsequentunlocking movement by its actuating slide and projection by the springupon manual actuation of the slide in the key projecting direction.

A special feature of my invention, aside from the general constructionof the container allowing compactness to be obtained, resides in thefact that each key is adapted on actuation of a part to be projected bya spring, and to be manually retracted, thus avoiding the annoyances anddiiiiculties present in ordinary holders of the user having to attemptto manually extract a key. Another important feature of my invention isthat the key when manually retracted, which is easily effected,automatically tensions or sets its spring for a subsequent keyprojecting action, while the key is at the same time at the end of itsretractive movement locked in retracted position. Other important oradvantageous features of my invention reside in the general constructionof the holder and mode of mounting the key and its controlling parts,whereby simplicity of construction as well as compactness of parts arealso obtained. In practice, the container, as stated, may be made ofmetal, or of Bakelite or other plastic materials. When made of metal thefastening screw-receiving sockets are directly formed in the metal. Whenmade of Bakelite or other plastic materials the sockets may be in theform of metal inserts embodied in the plastic material.

While the structure herein disclosed for purposes of exemplication ispreferred, it is, of course, to be understood ythat changes in the form,construction and arrangement of the parts within the scope of theappended claims may be made without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A key container comprising a holder having a key receivingcompartment, a key pivoted at one end to the holder to swing betweenretracted and projected positions into and out of said compartment, aspring on the holder adapted to be tensioned by the key on itsretracting movement for automatically projecting the key, a projectionon the pivoted end of the key located at one side of and Asubstantiallyin transverse alinement with yits pivot and engageable Withthe springfor tensioning said spring in vthe retracted rmovernent of the Ikey,said projection 'ibeing movable on kthe retraction of the key to aposition rbeyond the dead center line between the pivot and spring forAlocking the key against movement by the spring in its `retractedposition, and a slide on the holder for releasing the key forprojectionvby the spring.

2. A key container comprising a holder having a key receivingcompartmenttherein, a key pivoted to the holder to swing into and out ofsaid compartment between retracted and projected positions, aspringradaptedlto be tensioned by the key on its retractive movement,means including a pin on the key for tensioning the spring, lock- Iingthe key'in retracted position-and releasing it for projection by thespring, and means for releasing the key for projection by the spring.

3. A key container comprising a holder having a key receivingcompartmentl therein, a key pivoted to the holder to swineT into and outof said compartment between retracted and projected positions, a springadapted to be tensioned by the key on its retractive movemen't, meansincluding a pin on the key for tensioning the spring, locking the key inretracted position and releasing it for projection by the spring, and aslide on the holder engageable with said pin for releasing the key forprojection by the spring.

4. A key container comprising a holder having a key receivingcompartment, a key pivoted to swing into and out of said compartmentbetween retracted and projected positions, a looped spring having armsone normally engaging the container and the other movable to tension thespring and project the key, a pin on the key engageable with thelatter-named arm of the spring for tensioning the spring and for actionthereon by the spring to project the key, said pin being movable to aposition on the inner side of its pivot When the key is retracted to liebetween said pivot and said latter named arm of the spring to lock thekey against projection by the spring, and a slide on the holder having aportion engageable with the pin to release the key and to permit of itsprojection by the spring.

5. A key container comprising a holder having key containingcompartments at opposite sides thereof, keys pivotally mounted atopposite ends of the holder for swinging movements into and out of therespective compartments between retracted and projected positions,springs on the holder adapted to be tensioned to project the keys, pinson the keys arranged at one side of their pivots and engageable with thesprings to tension the springs on the retraotive movement of the keysand movable to positions on the inner sides of their pivots to lock thekeys in re- Jtracted position and for the action of the springs' thereonto subsequently project the keys, the pins in their retractive positionsbeing arranged to lock the keys against projection by the springs, andslides on the holder having portions engageable with the pins to effectrelease of the keys for projection by the springs.

6. A key container comprising a holder of substantially oblongrectangular form having key containing compartments at opposite sidesthereof, keys pivoted each at one end to the holder for swingingmovements into and out of the respective compartments, springs in theholder adapted to be tensioned by the keys on the retractive movement ofthe keys for subsequent reaction to swing the keys to projectedposition, projections on the keys for engaging and tensioning thesprings and arranged to move to a position inside their pivots when thekeys are retracted for locking the keys in retracted position againstprojection by the springs, and slides on the holder engageable with saidprojections for releasing the keys to permit of their projection by thesprings.

7. A key container comprising a holder of substantially oblongrectangular form and consisting of a central main or partition plate, asupporting plate on each side of 'the partition plate, said plates beingspaced to form key receiving compartments on opposite sides of thelongitudinal center of the holder, keys pivoted to the holder to swinginto and out of said compartments, springs mounted in the supportingplates and adapted to be tensioned by the keys on their retractivemovement to subsequently project the keys, pins on the keys disposedadjacent to and at one side of the pivots of the keys for engagementWith the springs to tension the same and movable to positions in theretractive positions of the keys to lock the keys against projection bythe springs, cover plates overlying the supporting plates on oppositesides of the holder and having slots therein, and slides mounted on thesupporting plates, one for cooperation with each key, each slide havinga thumb or finger piece projecting outwardly through a slot in a coverplate and having a portion for cooperation with the pin of an associatedkey to shift a retracted key to released position for automatic projection by its spring.

JOHN V. RIVERS.

